“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3

In 1964, singer Dionne Warwick recorded a song, “A House Is Not A Home.” The lyrics say that an empty house – no matter how beautiful – is not a home if the one we love isn’t there. Most can relate to that. A house is empty when the one you love leaves or passes away.

This was brought to my mind: we have a ninety-four old lady at our church named Norma. For her ninetieth birthday, she requested the church throw her a birthday party which was done. She spoke of the fact that as a child she always dreamed of owning a doll house. Many of us searched high and low to come up with a three-foot-tall doll house. She is only a little over four-feet tall. Four years later, for the most part, the house remains fairly empty. It was difficult to locate the properly-sized furniture and contents to place in the house. It just isn’t the same as it would be if the contents were there.

Prior to Jesus’ death He told His disciples that He was going away to a place that He would prepare for them. He described it as “His Father’s house.” The good news is that is also prepared for all who accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. This house will not be empty. Much of the information about this place is found in the book of the Revelation.

If you do not go with me to that eternal home, there will be a place prepared for you that will be empty. We can’t take our money, houses, or other possessions with us to Heaven but we can take the souls of our friends, family, and others we cross path with in this world.

Bro. Larry

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

I love to hear the stories of how our Christian songs and hymns originated. The story of how the song came about that we often sing to our children, “Jesus Loves Me,” is said to have happened this way:

Sisters Anna and Susan Warner lived on Constitution Island on the Hudson River across from the Military Academy at West Point. Their life was consumed with teaching the Bible to the cadets. In the meantime, they wrote a few books, one of which was “Say and Seal.” In the book they told of a fictional boy name Johnny Fox who was dying. His Sunday school teacher, John Linden, comforted him by taking him into his arms, rocking him, and making a little song that went like this, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so . . . “ Later, composer William Bradbury, read the words of the little song and together music for the lines and “Jesus Loves Me” was born as a children’s hymn.

The song has as strong of a foundation of faith as any other song today. It’s simple but true. Whether we are young or old, healthy or dying, prosperous or in poverty we can take assurance with fact that, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” 

Take fact that God loved us even before we loved him. “But God commended His love for us, that while we were yet sinners, he died for us.” Romans 5:8

Bro. Larry

P.S. Don’t forget to pray for schools returning to classes. Not all are going in person and not all at the same time. But, there are many reasons to pray for the safety of the students as well as school personnel and parents.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

A few years ago, my wife and I went on a food program (she doesn’t like for me to refer to it as a “diet”). The plan basically had the philosophy that if God made it, it was good but if man made it then it was bad for you. It was built on the concept that the additives in food are not usually good for you.

There are preservatives in bread and cheese to make them resistant to the growth of mold. We find food coloring in margarine to make it look more like butter, artificial sweeteners in soft drinks to make them calorie-free, and fillers in meat products to give them more volume. These seem good and well. Much of the time there comes a point where adding to something can actually subtract from it. This is true of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection that brings faith in Jesus; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

There is a growing movement to return to natural or organic foods. There is a return to pure cane sugar and other natural sweeteners that reduce the artificial stuff. There are documents that state that butter is healthier than margarine. And on it goes.

Many want to add to their faith in Jesus Christ other ingredients like membership to a certain church of denomination, a worship style, along with many do’s and don’ts. The Bible teaches do’s and don’ts but not when it comes to the faith that brings salvation. The Bible is very clear that Jesus was and is enough. “For no other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1st Corinthians 3:11).

• Jesus is enough to be our Savior
• Jesus is enough to be sufficient
• Jesus is enough to be our security

Have faith in Jesus. Trust Him with your heart and life. If you do not know Him as your Savior and Lord and are interested in a discussion as to how to receive salvation, call 615-672-3530.

Bro Larry

Have you ever anticipated something only to be disappointed because it was out of commission, down for repairs, or temporarily closed? When Donna and I were dating, I had told her little brother and sisters about an amusement park I went to quite often as a kid. We loaded the car and went south to Chattanooga. As we were getting close to the location of the park, I stopped at KFC to get a picnic lunch for us all to be eaten at the picnic area of the park. As I drove into the parking lot anticipating the rides and attractions, there was a closed sign. The park was closed for a year to make renovations. It was “out of commission.” My wife’s sister reminds me of the mistake of not checking ahead of time.

The above verse is what we refer to as “The Great Commission.” It is where Jesus told us to go and make disciples. You’d be hard pressed to meet a dedicated Christian who doesn’t say the greatest work on earth is evangelism. But most of us simply give lip service to evangelizing and discipling. Statistics show that while the American population has grown 9.7% from 2010-2020, nationwide church attendance has dropped by four percent. Somehow there is a disconnect between the priorities we claim to hold and the actions we take. There is little winning of souls in most churches and may have not won a soul to Christ in years. Much of the time we are distracted by good projects while overlooking the most important – winning the lost to Jesus.

It appears, that the church may be out of commission which is a result of many Church members being out of commission. We are not carrying on “The Great Commission” as intended.

Bro. Larry